NafisaDerek McInnes has had plenty of difficult decisions to make since taking charge of Rangers, but one recent selection choice has raised fresh questions about the future of a highly-rated summer signing.
The Ibrox boss is still trying to establish his preferred midfield combination as Rangers navigate a demanding run of fixtures. However, while some players continue to fight for regular opportunities, others who arrived for significant transfer fees are finding it difficult to get anywhere near the starting XI.
That situation became particularly noticeable during Rangers’ League Cup semi-final clash with Aberdeen at Hampden on Saturday, October 31.
McInnes made an unexpected decision by deploying natural left-back James Penrice in central midfield, despite having recognised midfielders available on the substitutes’ bench.
Penrice worked hard in an unfamiliar position before moving back towards his preferred role, eventually helping Rangers secure a place in the final through Ryan Naderi’s late winner.
But the decision also brought attention to one player whose absence from the team has become increasingly difficult to ignore.
Vanja Dragojevic’s Rangers absence continues
The player in question is Vanja Dragojevic, the Serbian midfielder who arrived at Ibrox with considerable expectations after Rangers committed around £4.7million to secure his signature.
The 20-year-old had previously captained Partizan Belgrade and attracted interest from several clubs, with Benfica and Eintracht Frankfurt among the sides reportedly keen on signing him.
However, his Rangers career has taken a very different direction since his arrival.
Dragojevic’s last starting appearance came on August 27, when Rangers suffered a disastrous UEFA Conference League qualifying defeat against Jablonec in the Czech Republic.
Since then, his involvement in the senior side has been extremely limited. His only appearance after that night came as a substitute during Rangers’ 3-0 League Cup victory over Celtic.
The midfielder has also been absent from Scottish Premiership action for 85 days, with his last league appearance coming in the 2-1 defeat against Hibernian on August 9.
On that occasion, he was deployed at right-back rather than in his natural midfield position.
For a player who arrived with such a significant price tag and a reputation built during his time in Serbia, the lack of opportunities represents a worrying situation.
McInnes’ decision to use Penrice in the middle against Aberdeen has only made the questions surrounding Dragojevic’s standing at Ibrox more difficult to avoid.
Rangers staff have reportedly identified the problem
However, there is now a clearer explanation for why the youngster has struggled to establish himself in McInnes’ plans.
A report from Calum Crowe in the Daily Mail has provided an insight into how Dragojevic is viewed by senior figures and coaching staff at Rangers.
Despite his technical ability and previous reputation, those inside the club reportedly believe the midfielder remains very raw and still has considerable development ahead of him.
The report stated:
“The word from Rangers is that the 20-year-old midfielder, who captained Partizan Belgrade, is a talent but still very raw. That’s fine. But he is not going to develop if he doesn’t play any football.”
That assessment offers an important glimpse into the dilemma facing McInnes.
Dragojevic clearly possesses qualities that convinced Rangers to invest heavily in him, but the coaching staff apparently believe he is not yet ready to deliver the consistency required at senior level.
The challenge is finding a way to develop those qualities without exposing him to situations that could undermine his confidence or the team’s results.
Tochi Chukwuani faces a similar situation
Dragojevic is not the only expensive midfield recruit struggling to make an impression.
Tochi Chukwuani, who joined Rangers in January for a reported £4.3million, has also found regular starting opportunities difficult to come by since the Jablonec tie.
The situation raises broader questions about Rangers’ midfield recruitment and whether McInnes can find a way to get more from two players who were brought in with significant expectations.
For now, the manager appears to be prioritising players he trusts to deliver immediate results as Rangers pursue their domestic ambitions.
But there is an obvious risk in allowing two substantial investments to spend so much time on the sidelines.
At 20, Dragojevic still has plenty of time to develop, and his reported technical potential suggests Rangers have not necessarily given up on him.
Nevertheless, the Daily Mail’s report highlights a concern that cannot be ignored: young players need competitive football if they are to improve.
With the January transfer window approaching, McInnes will eventually have to decide whether Dragojevic can be given a meaningful opportunity at Ibrox or whether another solution is required to accelerate his development.
For a midfielder who arrived with such high expectations, the next few weeks could prove particularly important.
Nafisa
